Types of Stroke

There are 2 main types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stokes are caused by a blood clot stopping blood flow through the brain. Ischemic strokes are most common. A thrombotic stroke is caused by a blood clot that forms in an artery directly leading to the brain. An embolic stroke is cause when a blood clot that formed in a different part of the body travels to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by uncontrolled bleeding in the brain, which interrupts normal blood flow causing cell death. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding on the surface of the brain. Intracerebral hemorrhage is bleeding deep in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by an aneurysm, in which the walls of an artery are weakened and eventually rupture, or by an arteriovenous malformation, which is a tangle of malformed blood vessels that easily burst.

Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)

TIAs or “mini-strokes” occur when a blood clot stops flow to the brain for a short period of time. TIAs are a medical emergency and have similar symptoms to a stroke. Having a TIA increases your risk of a stroke. Learn more about TIAs.